Chelsea produced an attacking masterclass at our Kingsmeadow home on Sunday afternoon when we hit nine goals past Bristol City without reply – a victory in which nine different players were on the scoresheet. The Blues managed 21 shots on target, which is the second highest in a Women’s Super League match, second to our 6-0 Spring Series win versus Yeovil Town that had 22.

Fran Kirby kick-started our goal-laden afternoon with a good left-footed strike on the edge of the area on 15 minutes. It was a special moment for our No.14 who registered her first goal in 16 months after returning from the illness pericarditis.

Our lead was doubled a quarter of an hour later when Maren Mjelde converted from the spot as a result of Ji So-Yun being fouled in the box. Two minutes later German midfielder Melanie Leupolz added the third and her maiden goal for Chelsea with a flying header, and the fourth swiftly followed when Erin Cuthbert struck wonderfully from range. Centre-back Millie Bright notched her second of the campaign as she powerfully headed home a Mjelde free-kick, putting the game completely out of our visitors' reach by half-time.

It comes as no surprise that Emma Hayes’ team continued to be in total control of the contest after the break. Chelsea’s top scorer last term, Bethany England, opened her 2020/21 account when she reacted quickly to a rebound to volley the ball home. On came new recruits Niamh Charles and Pernille Harder who both got in on the act. Charles contributed to the afternoon by scoring with her first touch after Harder’s deadly strike was spilled by Bristol’s No.1, enabling the young England international to coolly tap into an empty net.

Within five minutes of getting her assist, Harder notched her first goal in a Blues shirt and it was a thing of beauty. Charles returned the favour and turned provider for her team-mate as she drilled in a low cross from the left for the Denmark forward to majestically flick in with her heel. With just minutes left of play, goal number nine came when Sam Kerr ran onto Harder’s through ball and confidently steered beyond keeper Sophie Baggaley.

This relentless scoreline has topped the existing league record, a result that was already held by the Blues back in 2017, when we defeated Liverpool 7-0 in our triumphant Spring Series campaign. Goals from Gilly Flaherty, Kirby, Ji, Mjelde, Karen Carney, Cuthbert and Drew Spence secured that win – with five of those names still currently playing a crucial part in our Chelsea squad.

Below is a table showing the most goalscorers for a team in a single WSL match. The Blues' 8-0 drubbing of our London neighbours West Ham from last season is also in the rankings, with six different players finding the net.

Mjelde and England netted a brace apiece while Sophie Ingle, Cuthbert, Ramona Bachmann and Emily Murphy also contributed in front of goal.

There is now an international break and Chelsea are next in action on Sunday 27 when we face Everton in the quarter-final of the 2019/20 FA Cup.